Grey Graves

December 20, 2017

Grey Graves

The place was the richest place on earth, the most knowledgeable people lied there, the most magnificent serene aroma surrounded the place. As highly valuable but unimplemented ideas were buried there, and the place was called The Final Journey graveyard.

The Graveyard had seen many cries of relatives who had come to perform their final duties towards their beloved ones. Weeping wives, howling pets, shrieks of friends and faces with lost hopes of relatives were common for the trees which had grown hefty, like ghosts, due to decomposed human bodies buried beneath them. Some graves were so old, shabby and frayed by bushes of wild grass, it appeared as if world doesn't recognise the people entombed under those graves. Some graves were so lucky that everyday a bouquet of fresh flowers was presented to them only to be forgotten one day. Some graves were of dearest loved ones and were deserted like stray dogs.

Bordering to the corner of graveyard was a hut crafted with brown dried coconut leaves. A cemented chair made of marbles was the seat of Ramesh's pet dog. Ramesh a humble mid aged grimy man was the watchman of The final journey Graveyard. Nobody knew of Ramesh's background, but those who could recollect says he was abandoned by his wife when he was in his late twenties. Ramesh was always seen in a gloomy dress with sympathetic facial expression and adored by fellow mates, although he was not good looking. His livelihood was based on the perks given to him for his service towards dead.

Though his bread was derived from number of deaths in the town, he was never denied of a meal by faith called destiny. On the other hand he used to get enough to feed his pet and himself everyday. He had seen life in graveyard and dead carrying death. All day his grey cells of brain were traversed by flood of blood which carried varied feelings. The musing rippled in the brain were again drained in the heart. The flush of dead had more expression for him then the weeping mates of the dead. when he had no work he used to stare at graves with no definite intention, and finally when disturbed by a blow of wind or a bark of stray dogs, he used to lough at himself. He knew nobody in this world invented pain, but it was just passed on from one to other.

The scary picture of graveyard in the night soothed Ramesh's senses and made him sleep. The graveyard had taught him and transformed him from a normal sapient to a person who doesn't expect anything from life, although he have nurtured some shallow feelings. Sometimes these feelings would erupt and force him to smoke a cigaret or have a peg of brandy, sometimes it drove him to make senseless conversations with others. Nonetheless his life was of a pacified facile ocean.

One fine day, when sun was veiled with silvery clouds and air was moisturised with odour of spring, he got a news that by afternoon he needs to dig a grave for a girl who died in the neighbourhood. When he enquired he got to know that girl's name was Ms. Pinto, whom he had seen once or twice but could vaguely picturise the face. By the time the length of his shadow was reduced to half, he had finished digging the grave and waited for the diseased to be brought in.

The dark coffin was carried by weary faces as the clock showed half past three. And the usual routine of cremation for which Ramesh had lost any sentiments was accomplished. The grave covered with flowers of emotions was deserted by emotional fools. Ms. Pinto the passer by girl is now one of those silent riches of The final journey Graveyard.
The night followed was dark not because it was new moon night, but the colours of moon was shadowed by inky mist of black clouds. Heavy rain followed the bloom of cold wind, and Ramesh and his pet were confined inside the hut. After few hours the rain stopped and sound of gliding water was to be heard in the stillness of night. A sudden rift of thought drifted Ramesh from his sleep and he decided to see Ms. Pinto's grave.
Ramesh took his Kerosene lantern and started patting his legs on wet mud towards the grave. As he approached the grave he observed that Ms. Pinto's coffin is taken out by a stream of water crossing through the grave. He tried to cover it with mud but was of no use as it was washed away by continues stream of water. Ramesh decided to take off the coffin and dig the grave again and place back the coffin. As he took out the coffin, a thought crossed through his wits.
Although Ms.Pinto was from neighbourhood, Ramesh was not able to paint the face in his mind, so he decided to check the girls face and opened the coffin. As he opened the coffin which was half filled with rain water, the wet pale face of Pinto was radiated by yellow light of lantern flame. For a moment Ramesh could not take his eyes off from her face and was staring at her curved facial lines. Moreover when he was observing with his shallow feelings, Ms. Pinto's body was translucent through the wet cloths. The curves of bosoms for which his oversimplified feelings carved erupted into gush of emotions and he decided to go rough with the girls body.
After a while there were few droplets of water from Ms. Pinto's eyes, and the trees of the final journey graveyard were lost in confusion whether they were tears of pain or just drops of water from the dreadful rain.